Creator in For Kentucky Derby

THE WEEKEND WRAP UP

April 9-10

Tepin Breaks Stakes Record in Coolmore Jenny Wiley

Breeders’ Cup Champion and Eclipse Award Winner Tepin remains the best turf horse in America with her dazzling victory in Saturday’s $300,000 Gr.1 Coolmore Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland. Soaring over 1 1/16 miles in 1:40.53, Tepin broke the record for the prestigious stakes race which stood for 20 years.

Read full story…

Creator Comes Through in Arkansas Derby

The eyes of the crowd were on Cupid during the $1,000,000 Gr.1 Arkansas Derby on Saturday, but they were on the wrong gray. As the heavy favorite tired and faded, WinStar Farm’s Creator flew from last to first to score by 1 ¼ lengths.

Gettysburg sprang to the front after the break and did not relinquish his position for most of the race. He took the field through a quarter-mile in :22.81, a half-mile in :46.33, and six furlongs in 1:10.61. Cupid settled for stalking from second and jockey Martin Garcia went to his whip on the far turn, to no avail. The Baffert-trainee faded to finish 10th. Creator, meanwhile, started the race in no hurry and was15 ¼ lengths behind Gettysburg after the first quarter-mile. Under jockey Ricardo Santana, Jr., Creator began his move as the field entered the far turn and gained ground quickly. Track announcer Pete Aiello thought Creator was done as he ran through tight quarters down the lane, saying, “Creator will not get the job done!” Santana was not deterred, however, and kept asking until his mount was in the lead, and they hit the wire in 1:50.14.

Creator is a 3-year-old son of Tapit and is out of Morena, a Peruvian graded stakes winning daughter of Privately Held. From 8 starts he has 2 wins, 4 seconds, and a third for earnings of $768,320. The Arkansas Derby was the last of the point-earning prep races for the Kentucky Derby, with points of 100-40-20-10. Creator now has 110 points and sits in 6th place on the leaderboard.

This was the first Arkansas Derby victory for Santana, and the third for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Creator will leave for Churchill on Monday.

Payouts
Creator ——— $25.20 $8.60 $5.00
Suddenbreakingnews — $6.00 $4.00
Whitmore ——————— $3.80
Dazzling Gem

$1 trifecta —> $258.10

Collected Wins Lexington S., Likely to Pass on Kentucky Derby

Racking up another Kentucky Derby prep race victory for trainer Bob Baffert, Collected won Saturday’s $150,000 Lexington Stakes (Gr.3) at Keeneland. Traveling 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.33, Collected earned10 critical points toward entry in the Derby – bringing his total to 21, although he will not be running for the roses.
Breaking from the 10 slot, Collected and jockey Javier Castellano sprinted towards the rail to save ground. Settling into a close second behind early leader One More Round, Collected sprang into action heading into the home stretch. Showing tenacity, he pulled ahead of One More Round to win by nearly four lengths.
“I was very impressed with (the effort). (Trainer) Bob (Baffert) did a very good job getting him ready. Lot of good horses in the race,” said Peter Fluor, partner at Speedway Stables (owners of Collected).

When asked about the Preakness, he replied, “I think that would be the most logical step, given the distance. We’ll see how he comes out (of this race), but that would be a thrill for us.”

A son of City Zip, this chestnut colt has earned $433,700 in his six career starts. His notable performances include first in the Sham Stakes, second in the Cecil B. DeMille Stakes and fourth in the Southwest Stakes.

Payouts
Collected — $6.40 $4.00 $3.00
One More Round $28.40 $13.80
Synchrony ————— $5.00
Direct Message

$1 superfecta → $2,729.70

Kentucky Derby and Oaks Changes

Songbird out of Oaks – Fox Hill Farm confirmed on Sunday night that undefeated Songbird will miss the Kentucky Oaks due to a lasting fever that is now being treated with antibiotics. The daughter of Medaglia d’Oro will take 7-10 days off before resuming training. It has not been stated where she will run next.

No Derby for Cupid – Baffert camp confirmed that runner Cupid, who finished third-last at Oaklawn and is 13th on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 50 points, will not break from the gate on the first Saturday in May.

Collected Rumored Out of Derby – Though not confirmed, there has been chatter in the Baffert barn that Lexington S. winner Collected will be passing up on the Kentucky Derby and is likely to take aim at the Preakness.

Mo Tom Gets in Derby Gate – With the news that Cupid is out, Tom Amoss trainee Mo Tom — who sits 21st on the leaderboard — will now have a shot at the roses.

Lightstream Gets Beaumont S. Win

In an exciting rail trip, Lightstream and Julien Leparoux dug deep to win Sunday’s $150,000 Adena Springs Beaumont Stakes (Gr.3) at Keeneland by less than a length. Going approximately seven furlongs in 1:26.27, Lightstream defeated a small five horse field for trainer Brian Lynch.

Breaking from the one slot, Lightstream settled into fourth behind early leaders Kinsley Kisses and R Girls A Charmer, who were setting fractions of :22.22 and :44.64. Cruising comfortably, Lightstream snuck up the rail heading into the homestretch. Accompanied by Nickname, the two fillies passed R Girls A Charmer and fought to the wire – with Lightstream emerging victorious.

The Harlan’s Holiday daughter is currently undefeated in her two career starts and has earned 10 points for the Kentucky Oaks (currently off the leaderboard). She is owned by Up Hill Stable and Head of Plains Partners LLC.

Payouts
Lightstream $4.60 $2.80 $2.10
Nickname ——— $3.40 $2.10
Kinsley Kisses ———– $2.20
R Girls a Charmer

Effinex Scores in Oaklawn Handicap

Effinex, one of the top handicap horses in 2015, returned to the winner’ circle on Saturday, April 16, after winning the $750,000 Gr. 2 Oaklawn Handicap. It was the 5-year-old horse’s second start of the year.

Santa Anita Handicap winner Melatonin took the lead early in the race, taking the field through an opening quarter-mile in :23.18 and slowed down for a half-mile in :47.85. Effinex stayed close early, running three wide into the first turn and continued to apply pressure on the leader through the backstretch. Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith asked Effinex to move at the half-mile mark and was not disappointed; Effinex surged forward to battle for the lead. Melatonin, under Joseph Talamo, could not get past his determined foe, though the two fought through the stretch, and Effinex hit the wire a length ahead. The final time for the 1 1/18 mile race was 1:49.

Effinex, who is by Mineshaft and out of the E Dubai mare What a Pear, looked fantastic in the mornings leading up to the Oaklawn Handicap as he moved easily across the Arkansas oval with his ears perked up. “He really likes that track, and he likes it fast like that,” said trainer Jimmy Jerkins.

From 22 starts, Effinex has 8 wins, 2 seconds, and 4 thirds for earnings of $2,682,950.

Payouts
Effinex $5.40 $3.20 $2.60
Melatonin — $3.20 $3.00
Point Piper ——– $8.00
Blofield

$1 trifecta → $107.80

Cavorting Runs Second in 2016 Debut

Stonestreet Stables’ multiple graded stakes winning filly Cavorting ran second Sunday in the $200,000 Gr.3 Distaff Handicap at Aqueduct. It was her first race of 2016. Out of the gate, she settled near the back of the pack while Madam Aamoura took the lead and led until the field was in the second turn. Paulassilverlining took control from there and drew away for the victory. Cavorting made a move up the rail running down the stretch but lacked her usual drive and settled for second.

Photos: Mary Ellet for EverythingEQ.com, Ciara Bowen for Eclipse Sportswire, and Ashley Mueller.

THE WEEKEND WRAP-UP COVERS 3-YEAR-OLD KENTUCKY DERBY AND OAKS PREPS, BREEDERS’ CUP “WIN AND YOU’RE IN” RACES, AND STAKES RACES FEATURING NOTEWORTHY HORSES. TRACKS COVERED INCLUDE SANTA ANITA, DEL MAR, LOS ALAMITOS (TB), GULFSTREAM PARK, TAMPA BAY DOWNS, AQUEDUCT, BELMONT PARK, SARATOGA, KEENELAND, CHURCHILL DOWNS, OAKLAWN, MONMOUTH PARK AND FAIR GROUNDS.

Follow us on Twitter @EverythingEqLLC